Campanula plant named ‘PKMT02’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Campanula  plant named ‘PKMT02’, characterized by having upright, compact plant habit with a wide spread area; dense and bushy plant form, mainly due to short, upright and stiff stems; vigorous growth habit, but with less need for chemical growth retardation; higher number of flowers per plant; and dark violet flower color.

Latin name of genus and species of the plant claimed: Campanula sp.

Variety denomination: ‘PKMT02’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofCampanula plant, botanically known as Campanula sp., commonly known asBellflower, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘PKMT02’.

The new Campanula ‘PKMT02’ is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the inventor, Gert K. Jensen, in Søhus, Denmark. Theobjective of the breeding program is to develop a new Campanula cultivarwith compact plant form and dark violet flowers.

The new Campanula cultivar originated from a cross made in a controlledbreeding program by the inventor in 2004 in Søhus, Denmark. The femaleor seed parent is a Campanula tubulosa cultivar ‘PKMT01’ (patented,described in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,226). The male or pollen parent isthe unpatented wild form of Campanula carpatha. The new Campanula‘PKMT02’ was discovered and selected by the inventor as a singleflowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in January of2004 in a controlled environment in Søhus, Denmark. The inventorselected ‘PKMT02’ on the basis of its compact plant form, dark violetcolors and freely flowering habit. Plants of ‘PKMT02’ are more upright,compact and freely flowering than plants of the original parentalcultivars.

Asexual reproduction of the new Campanula cultivar by terminal cuttingswas first performed in September of 2004 in Søhus, Denmark, and hasdemonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosedfor the new cultivar are firmly fixed and retained through successivegenerations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘PKMT02’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘PKMT02’ as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Upright, compact plant habit with a wide spread area;    -   2. Dense and bushy plant form, mainly due to short, upright and        stiff stems;    -   3. Vigorous growth habit, but with less need for chemical growth        retardation;    -   4. Higher number of flowers per plant; and    -   5. Dark violet flower color.

Side-by-side comparisons were conducted by the inventor in Søhus,Denmark, between plants of the new Campanula sp. ‘PKMT02’ and plants ofthe Campanula carpatha wild type. Plants of ‘PKMT02’ differ from plantsof Campanula carpatha wild type in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of ‘PKMT02’ have large, dark violet, upright, single        and campanulate flowers;    -   2. Plants of ‘PKMT02’ have shorter internodes, petioles, and        leaves;    -   3. Plants of ‘PKMT02’ have more upright growth;    -   4. Plants of ‘PKMT02’ have shorter peduncles;    -   5. Plants of ‘PKMT02’ are shorter and more compact in shape; and    -   6. Plants of ‘PKMT02’ produce more flowers per plant.

The most similar comparison cultivar to the new Campanula sp. ‘PKMT02’is the female parental cultivar, Campanula tubulosa ‘PKMT01’ (patented,described in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,226). Plants of the new Campanulasp. ‘PKMT02’ differ from plants of Campanula tubulosa ‘PKMT01’ in thefollowing characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of ‘PKMT02’ have more spread (25 cm) than plants of        ‘PKMT01’ (20 cm);    -   2. Plants of ‘PKMT02’ have less lateral branches (about 16)        which are longer (10-13 cm) and yellow-green in color (RHS 146D)        than plants of ‘PKMT01’ (about 25 lateral branches which are 3-4        cm in length and green in color, RHS 138A);    -   3. Plants of ‘PKMT02’ have taller inflorescence height (9-11 cm)        than plants of ‘PKMT01’ (about 5-8 cm); and    -   4. Plants of ‘PKMT02’ produce less flowers and buds per plant        (150-250) than plants of ‘PKMT01’ (300-400);    -   5. Plants of ‘PKMT02’ have buds with yellow-green color (RHS        149D) whereas plants of ‘PKMT01’ have buds with green-white        color (RHS 157A); and    -   6. Plants of ‘PKMT02’ produce dark violet flowers (RHS 87A)        whereas plants of ‘PKMT01’ produce violet flowers (RHS 84A).    -   7. Plants of ‘PKMT02’ produce yellow-orange anthers and pollen        (RHS 16C), green-yellow styles (RHS 1D), and a yellow-green        ovaries (RHS N144C) whereas plants of ‘PKMT01’ produce        yellow-white anthers and pollen (RHS 158B) and white styles and        ovaries (RHS 155D).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Campanula ‘PKMT02’, showing the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color valuescited in the detailed botanical description, which more accuratelydescribe the actual colors of ‘PKMT02’.

FIG. 1 shows a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of‘PKMT02’, as grown in a 10.5 cm pot at 14 weeks of age.

FIG. 2 shows a top perspective view of a typical flowering plant of‘PKMT02’, as grown in a 10.5 cm pot at 14 weeks of age.

FIG. 3 show a close-up view of typical flowering raceme and leaves of‘PKMT02’ at 14 weeks of age.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new Campanula ‘PKMT02’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype of the new cultivar may varysignificantly with variations in environment such as temperature, lightintensity, day length, and fertility level without any variance ingenotype.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the followingobservations, measurements and values describe plants of the newCampanula ‘PKMT02’ as grown in a heated and lighted, glass-coveredgreenhouse in Søhus, Denmark, under conditions which closely approximatethose generally used in commercial practice where day temperatures inthe greenhouse range from 18-20° C. and the night temperature range from16-18° C. Ambient light levels used while growing plants of ‘PKMT02’ are+90 Wm². Plants of ‘PKMT02’ are grown with 18 hour long dayphotoperiodic treatments. No growth retardants used.

The age of the ‘PKMT02’ plants described is 18 weeks old and grown in10.5 cm pots. The photographs and descriptions were taken during thewinter season when day temperatures in glass-covered greenhouse rangefrom 18-20° C. and when night average temperatures in glass-coveredgreenhouse range from 16-18° C.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart (R.H.S.), 4^(th) edition, except where general colors of ordinarysignificance are used.

-   Classification:    -   -   Botanical.—Campanula sp.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female or seed parent.—Campanula tubulosa cultivar            designated ‘PKMT01’ (patented, described in U.S. Plant Pat.            No. 17,226).        -   Male or pollen parent.—Unpatented wild form of Campanula            carpatha.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots.—About 12 to 15 days at 18 to 21° C.            in tunnels in a greenhouse.        -   Root description.—Fine, well branched.-   Plant description:    -   -   Form.—Biennial, herbaceous plant with upright, compact plant            habit. Produced as a potted plant. Campanulate flowers in            racemes. Freely branching with lateral branches forming at            every node.        -   Crop time.—After rooting, about 18 weeks are required to            produce finished flowering plants in 10.5 cm pots.        -   Vigor.—Vigorous growth rate.        -   Plant height (from pot rim to top of plant plane).—About 14            to 16 cm.        -   Plant spread (width).—About 25 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Habit: Freely branching. Quantity: About            16 per plant. Leaves per Lateral Branch: About 8. Length: 10            cm to 13 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm to 4 mm. Internode Length:            1.5 cm to 2.0 cm.        -   Stem.—Shape: Round. Strength: Strong. Aspect: Upright and            outward. Texture: Hirsute and white lactate. Color: RHS            146D, yellow-green.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, single.        -   Overall shape.—Oblanceolate.        -   Apex shape.—Acute.        -   Base shape.—Cuneate.        -   Length.—About 20 mm to 90 mm.        -   Width.—About 10 mm to 20 mm.        -   Margin.—Serrate.        -   Texture (both sides).—Hirsute.        -   Color (mature and immature).—Upper surface: RHS 137A, green;            Lower Surface: RHS 137C, green.        -   Venation.—Pattern: Reticulate, partly net-veined. Color:            Upper surface: RHS 137A, green; Lower Surface: RHS 137C,            green.        -   Petiole.—Length: Up to 3.0 cm. Diameter: 4×2 mm,            flat-winged. Color: RHS 144D, yellow-green.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Flower arrangement and shape.—Single, upright to outward,            large acropetal campanulate flowers in compressed raceme            with large calyx.        -   Natural flowering season.—Continuous throughout the spring            and summer. Season can be extended year round by long day            treatments.        -   Time to flower.—About 8 weeks.        -   Rate of opening.—About 30 flowers per week.        -   Flower longevity.—On the plant, flowers last about 5 to 9            days; however, longevity of individual flowers is highly            dependent on temperature and light conditions. Flowers            persistent.        -   Fragrance.—Yes, fresh, chilly scent.        -   Inflorescence size.—Height: 9 cm to 11 cm. Diameter: 4 to 7            cm.        -   Number of flowers per inflorescence.—5 to 11.        -   Number of flowers per lateral stem.—About 20 to 30.        -   Number of flowers and buds per plant.—About 150 to 250.        -   Buds.—Length: Up to 18 mm. Diameter: Up to 5 mm. Shape:            Oblong, star-shaped cross section. Color: RHS 149D,            yellow-green.        -   Flowers.—Aspect: Upward to outward. Shape: Deltoid,            cuspidate petal lobes. Depth (height): About 25 mm.            Diameter: About 25 to 30 mm. Flowering: Persistent. Corolla            color: Upper surface: RHS 87A; Throat: RHS N87D; Underside:            RHS 84A. Calyx: Double with pointed tips (mucronulate),            reflexed bracts, green color RHS 137C to RHS 138B.        -   Petals.—Arrangement: Sympetalous. Quantity per flower: About            4 to 5. Length: About 8 to 10 mm. Width: About 8 to 10 mm.            Overall Shape: Deltoid. Tip: Cuspidate. Base: Fused. Margin:            Entire. Texture: Silky. Color (when opening); Upper surface:            Violet, RHS N87A; Under surface: Violet, RHS 84A. Color            (when fully opened): Upper surface: Violet, RHS N87B, with            throat color of RHS N87D; Under surface: Violet, RHS 88C.            Fading: Fading to violet, RHS N87B.        -   Sepals.—Arrangement: Basally fused. Appearance: Hirsute.            Quantity per flower: 5 lobes, 5 bracts. Length: About 11 mm            to 12 mm. Width: About 5 to 6 mm. Overall shape: Mucronate.            Tip: Mucronate. Base: Fused to bracts. Bracts shape: Folded,            round, reflexed. Margin: Entire. Texture: Hirsute. Color            (immature): Upper and under surfaces: Green, RHS 138C to RHS            138D. Color (mature): Upper and under surfaces: Green, RHS            137C.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 4 mm to 6 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm.            Angle: Varies. Strength: Strong. Color: Yellow-green, RHS            146D.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Androecium.—Stamen: Quantity: 3 to 5, linear anthers            initially fused. Anther: Shape: Lanceolate. Length: About 6            to 7 mm. Color: Yellow-orange, RHS 16C. Pollen: Amount:            Plenty. Color: Yellow-orange, RHS 16C.        -   Gynoecium.—Pistil: Quantity: 1. Length: About 25 mm to            30 mm. Stigma: Shape: Pentapartite. Color: Green-yellow, RHS            1B. Style: Length: About 20-22 mm. Color: Green-yellow, RHS            1D. Ovary: Color: Yellow-green, RHS 144C.-   Seed/fruit: None observed.-   Weather tolerance: Plants of the new Campanula have exhibited good    tolerance to drought, rain and wind, with low temperature resistance    to 0° C.-   Disease/pest resistance: ‘PKMT02’ has not been tested.-   Disease/pest susceptibility: ‘PKMT02’ has not been tested.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Campanula plant named ‘PKMT02’, asillustrated and described herein.